Valved coupling



Patented Jan. 6, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a valved coupling. More particularly,it relates to a quick acting coupling for use between two fluid lines.

It is an object of the invention to provide, in

a quick acting coupling, a valve means that closes off a disconnectedcoupling element as soon as the coupling is opened.

A particular object is to provide a coupling for use in a vacuum line,with a valve in the element connected to the source of the vacuum, whichis automatically closed as soon as the coupling is broken.

A particular object is to provide a valve of this kind that may bereadily inserted into presently existing couplings, without substantialmodification thereof. A particular object is to provide a coupling ofthis kind with an automatic shutoliF valve for use in connection withvacuum brakes, particularly with vacuum brakes on tractor trailers.

It is a further object to provide such a coupling that will prevent theintake of air into the vacuum line as soon as the coupling is opened,thereby eliminating the danger of introduction of quantities of air intothe system that would damage the vacuum pump and the other partsthereof. It is a further object to provide such a valved coupling thatwill eliminate the necessity of closing manual valves prior to openingof the couping` It is a further object to provide a valve of this kindwhich will substantially eliminate the intake of any air into the vacuumsystem Whenever the coupling is broken.

A further object is to provide a valve of this kind that will preventthe intake of dirt into the vacuum line with its consequent interferencewith the operation of the vacuum system, the check valves and the otherelements used therein.

Other objects will appear in the course of the description to follow,wherein:

. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the coupling in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a view of the coupling in separated condition, with the outersleeve element shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, diametrical section through both elements ofthe coupling in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the plug element of the couplingwith its valve closed;

Fig. 5 is a View of the pin insert for operating the ball valve in theplug element; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse view through the socket element of the couplingalone, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The coupling in general comprises a plug I0 and a socket II. The plug isshown in more detail in Figs. 2 and 4, and is normally adapted to beconnected to the vacuum system on the tractor, when this device is usedin connection with tractor brakes. It has a tting I2 for union with thevacuum line. This fitting I2 terminates in a flange I3 from which anexternally threaded portion I4 projects. A hollow plug element I5 isinternally threaded to be secured to the projecting portion I4. The plugelement I5 has an internal bore I5 therethrough, reduced between itsends to form a valve seat I'I. The right hand end of the element I5, asit appears in the drawings, is tapered at I8 for intertting with thesocket member, as will appear. At the larger end of the tapered portion,a peripheral groove I9 surrounds the plug element for a purpose to bedescribed.

A ball valve 20 iits easily within the enlarged part of the bore I5 andis engageable against the valve seat Il. This ball valve 20 is normallyurged toward its seat by a coil spring 2l resting against it and alsoabutting against a shoulder 22 within the outer edge of the projectingportion I4.

The plug member I0 is adapted to be inserted into the socket member Il,wherein it may be securely held. The socket member is adapted to beconnected to a pipe 25 that leads to the brake booster cylinder on thetractor. To this end, there is conventionally employed a compositesocket member formed of a first union 26 and a second tapered socketelement 21, the two being secured together as by threads 28. The unionmember 26 has a peripheral flange 29 for a purpose to be described.

The socket element 21 has a tapered socket 3Q extending inwardly fromone end, with a plug receiving sealing washer 3l, of rubber or the like,seated in a groove therearound adjacent its smaller end. The outer endof the socket element 21 has two oppositely disposed tapered holes 32therein. Each hole receives a ball 33. These balls 33, as appears fromFig. 3, are movable radially inwardly to engage within the peripheralgroove I9 on the plug member I5, when the plug member is inserted intothe socket.

The balls are confined by a sleeve 34. This sleeve has an inturnedflange 35 at its right end that engages the flange 29 on the unionmember 2li to limit the movement of the sleeve 34 to the left in Fig. 3.It is normally urged its maximum distance to the left by a coil spring36 that engages against the flange 29 of the mem- 3 ber 26, and againsta shoulder 31 on the sleeve member.

The sleeve member likewise has a groove 38 around its inner surfaceadjacent one end, so that, when the sleeve is drawn to the right in Fig.3, this groove 38 will be disposed radially behind the two balls 33.Thereby these two balls may be displaced radially outwardly to permitwithdrawal of the plug member. When the sleeve is moved to the left,ythe sloping edge of the shoulder 39 at' the right side of the groove 38forces the balls inwardly and holds them there.

The foregoing structure is well known in the I art in so far as thelocking of the two members.'

together is concerned.

In the present invention, the pipe-25 isvtappedY out at 40 in its leftend, and acap-like,corre A spondingly threaded fitting 4I is screwedinto the tapped out portion 40. The ltting 4I is hollowY and has ahollow pin 42projecting into the socket member 21:. The'pin communicateswith the interior of the' pipe-25. Beside, the pin, as shown inFig. 6,are two additional openings 43V andV 44, sothat theair may freelypassthrough the cap member 4l.

OperationV Assuming; that theV plug.,y member I- has its fitting; I2connected to 'a vacuum line on the tractor of a trailer truck, and thesocket member I I hasitspipe'25.connected'tb the booster cylinder on,the; trailer itself', the` two members may be attached together, bydrawing the sleeve 34 on the socketimember backwardly` againstzthespring 36 to dispose the groove 38 opposite the two balls 335 Then theplug'member I0 may be inserted within the socket. Its' small end willseat tightly within theV seat 3 I` formed on the inner peripheralsurface of the tapered socket member. WhenI it is so` seated, the balls33 may enter into the peripheral groove I'9 onthe plugfmember.Thereupon', the sleeve'34'may. be released, and, as it is drawn to' theleft', its shoulder 39 willi force the vballs 33linto the groove I8,againstvremoval, and thereby will eiect locking ofthe plug and sockettogether.

When the two membersare disposed in the position shown in Fig; 3, thepin II2` will engage the ballvalve 'land' displace thersame from itsseat I-T, thereby establishing full communication-from the pipe tothepipeA |22 leading to the vacuum source. The ball valve will thus be heldopen whenever the union. is connected;

However, whenever it is'd'esign'ed to break'th'e connection, the sleeve3'4' is again withdrawn, whereupon the plug member I0 may be pulled outof the socket member I I', because the balls 33 may move into the groove.'I8f As the plug' and.

socket are separated, the pin E2 is withdrawn from the-ball valve- 20',and the'V spring 20 forces tlieball valve closed. The spring has enoughforce to maintain the ball valveY closed against atmospheric pressure.Thereby the vacuum line is immediately sealed whenever the parts areseparated. The action is so instantaneous that no dirt or substantialamount of air can get into the vacuum line, and is completed before theplug and socket are separated. It will remain thus sealed until theconnection is again made with the socket member II.

Itwill be seen. that thismechanism. is adapted to the conventionalcouplingthat-isnow used. To install this valve arrangement in anypresently existing coupling of this type, it is necessary only t'o tapout the threads 40 and insert the cap member 4I, with its integral pin42, therein. Then the. plug I0 is provided with the valve 20 and itsassociated parts. This completely eliminates the necessity of closin'gthe manual valve in the vacuum line, and, furthermore, it eliminates thecolumn of air that otherwise would be present with a manual valvearrangement between the valve and the open end of the plug member.

What is claimed is:

In a coupling for use with a fluid line, a plug member, means at a backend ofthe plug member for attachingit to a pipe, an` opening extendingfrom said back end of the plug member, axially through said member, saidopening having a reduced portion providing a valve seat intermediate itslength, the valve seat being disposed to face backwardly of the plugelement, a valve lnsertable from the back of the member into the openingand movable from the seat backwardly, spring means engaging the valve tourge it forwardly against the valve seat, the plug member havinga'tapered outer surface of reduced diameter towardits forward end, asocket member cooperable with the plug member, the socket member havingan internally threaded portion attachable Ato the end of a pipe andhaving a tapered inner surface to receive the tapered outer surface ofthe plug member and. to seal therewith, a pin member comprising. afitting having external threads engageable with internal threads on theinterior surfacev of the end of the pipe to which the socket memberY isattached, and a pin projecting from the .tting and 4sized to enter thepassage inthe plug member and displace the valve from itsseatl when, theplug and` socket members o are, engaged. together, said pin memberhaving openings. tolvpermit passage of uid. therethrough.

ERNEST O. KNOBLAUCH.

REFERENCES` CITED Thefoll'owingfreferences are of` record in the leofthis, patent:`

UNITED STATES PA ILN IS Number. Namer Date 2,335,007 Haag Nov. 23, 19432,305,841A Carlson Dec. 22, 1942 1,427,105 Handlan .Aug. 29', 1922

